Maris Stella Institute's 8th Annual Silent Retreat

Maris Stella Institute’s 8th Annual Silent Retreat

Our Lady, Star of the Sea:  True Devotion to Mary

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Carmelite House of Prayer

20 Mount Carmel Drive, Oakville, CA 94562

Retreat Master: Fr. Steven Wood

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Holy Hours of Adoration Before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed, Confession, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Conferences, Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Liturgy of the Hours, Personal Quiet Time, Lunch & Light Refreshments are all included.

Bring water, salt, 100% beeswax candles, and other sacramentals that you wish to be blessed.

Father Steven Wood hails from St. Joseph Parish in the picturesque town of Auburn ("The Endurance Capital of the World").  His two younger brothers and three younger sisters (not to mention Mom and Dad) endured him through many years of homeschooling before he went off to Christendom College to study our rich Western Catholic tradition, be inspired by truly exemplary professors, and form friendships with an awesome assortment of blokes and ladies.

Ever since he was young, Fr. Steven felt the tug towards priesthood.  He finally applied to seminary as a response to an invitation he received from Jesus Christ in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a call echoed by many people he encountered before and since.  In his years of seminary formation at Mount Angel Seminary, Fr. Steven learned a fair deal, familiarized himself with the Diocese of Sacramento and its priests, and discerned the Lord Jesus' call more concretely. 

Bishop Jaime Soto ordained Fr. Steven a priest of Jesus Christ in June of 2019, and assigned him to St. Mary's Parish in Vacaville.  After two years of patient endurance (joyful, to all appearances!), the sainted St. Mary's parish family was relieved of its whippersnapper vicar in July of 2021, when Fr. Steven was assigned to Vallejo.  Having receiving a welcome to beat the band, Fr. Steven is honored to serve the St. Vincent Ferrer parish family with his prayer, ministry, and spiritual fatherhood, collaborating with its pastor, the reverend Fr. Vic Teneza.

Fr. Steven's favorite saints are of sufficient number to constitute a posse; they include St. Joseph, St. Therese, Bl. Pier Giorgio, and Mary the Mother of God.  He's also pretty certain that some people that he has known (and some that he's anointed) have also preceded him in the radical race to Heaven.  Please pray for him, as he does for you.

Retreat Cost: $35 per person for this one-day retreat, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Space is limited. Don’t delay; Register TODAY at www.marisstellainstitute.org. For more information, call (707) 704-9025.